The EU supports Namibia's largest off-grid solar-diesel hybrid energy supplier (24/01/2012)

On 25 January, the European Union and the Government of Namibia will inaugurate a solar-diesel hybrid electricity supplier in Tsumkwe. The EU has made available EUR 2.3 million to co-finance this project under the ACP-EU Energy Facility II, which aims to facilitate access to modern energy services for the poor in rural and peri-urban areas in ACP countries.

Tsumkwe is Namibia’s largest off-grid settlement, with the closest electricity grid access point over 270 km away. According to the national rural electricity distribution master plan, the settlement is not scheduled for grid electrification in the near future. Tsumkwe is strategically well placed to cater for Namibia’s flourishing tourism industry, but the lack of access to a reliable supply of electricity constraints development.

Energy has for a long time been part of the EU’s cooperation policy for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. With this intervention, the EU recognises the enormous challenge Namibia faces in the energy sector, which is reflected by its current high dependence on imported electricity from South Africa. The EU's co-financing of this project and the Caprivi Link Interconnector demonstrates the importance it places on the use of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures for productive use.

The Tsumkwe Energy project is a small-scale pilot project aimed at improving access to modern energy services for poor, marginalized, indigenous people in remote rural settlements. The infrastructure deployed is a solar diesel hybrid energy supply system which now provides 24 hours stable electricity, improved energy quality and reduced electricity generation cost to the local authority. The direct beneficiaries are over 70 households, 20 different institutions and over 15 businesses.

The Tsumkwe Energy project provides a case study on appropriate delivery mechanisms for a comprehensive large-scale roll-out of energy efficient technology in Namibia and beyond. Through increased access to electricity, the local community, in particular the San people, now have improved opportunities for SME development and the diversification of income generating activities.
The project is implemented by the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia, and co-funded by Nampower and the Namibian Government.

Contact:

Natasha Tibinyane,

EU Delegation to Namibia Press and Information Officer